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www.it-ebooks.info
www.it-ebooks.info
 Java ™

Pocket Guide

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www.it-ebooks.info
 Java ™

Pocket Guide

Robert Liguori and Patricia Liguori

Beijing • Cambridge • Farnham • Köln • Paris • Sebastopol • Taipei • Tokyo

www.it-ebooks.info
Java™ Pocket Guide
by Robert Liguori and Patricia Liguori

Copyright © 2008 Robert Liguori and Patricia Liguori. All rights reserved.
Printed in Canada.
Published by O’Reilly Media, Inc., 1005 Gravenstein Highway North,
Sebastopol, CA 95472.
O’Reilly books may be purchased for educational, business, or sales
promotional use. Online editions are also available for most titles
(safari.oreilly.com). For more information, contact our corporate/
institutional sales department: (800) 998-9938 or [email protected].

Editor: Mike Loukides Indexer: Julie Hawks

Production Editor: Cover Designer: Karen Montgomery
Rachel Monaghan Interior Designer: David Futato
Copyeditor: Loranah Dimant Illustrator: Robert Romano
Proofreader: Rachel Monaghan

Printing History:
March 2008: First Edition.

Nutshell Handbook, the Nutshell Handbook logo, and the O’Reilly logo are
registered trademarks of O’Reilly Media, Inc. The Pocket Guide series
designations, Java Pocket Guide, the image of a Javan tiger, and related trade
dress are trademarks of O’Reilly Media, Inc.
Java™ and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc., in the United States and other countries.
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish
their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear
in this book, and O’Reilly Media, Inc. was aware of a trademark claim, the
designations have been printed in caps or initial caps.
While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the
publisher and authors assume no responsibility for errors or omissions, or
for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.

ISBN: 978-0-596-51419-8
[TM]

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 Contents

Preface xi

Part I. Language

Chapter 1: Naming Conventions 3

Class Names 3
Interface Names 3
Method Names 3
Instance and Static Variable Names 4
Parameter and Local Variables Names 4
Generic Type Parameter Names 4
Constant Names 5
Enumeration Names 5
Package Names 5
Acronyms 5

Chapter 2: Lexical Elements 6

Unicode and ASCII 6
Comments 8
Keywords 9
Identifiers 10

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 Separators 10
Operators 10
Literals 12
Escape Sequences 15
Unicode Currency Symbols 15

Chapter 3: Fundamental Types 17

Primitive Types 17
Literals for Primitive Types 18
Floating-Point Entities 20
Numeric Promotion of Primitive Types 21
Wrapper Classes 23
Autoboxing and Unboxing 24

Chapter 4: Reference Types 26

Comparing Reference Types to Primitive Types 26
Default Values 27
Conversion of Reference Types 28
Converting Between Primitives and Reference Types 29
Passing Reference Types into Methods 30
Comparing Reference Types 31
Copying Reference Types 33
Memory Allocation and Garbage Collection of
Reference Types 35

Chapter 5: Object-Oriented Programming 36

Classes and Objects 36
Variable Length Argument Lists 42
Abstract Classes and Abstract Methods 43

vi | Contents

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 Static Data Members, Static Methods, and Static Constants 44
Interfaces 46
Enumerations 46
Annotations Types 47

Chapter 6: Statements and Blocks 50

Expression Statements 50
Empty Statement 51
Blocks 51
Conditional Statements 51
Iteration Statements 53
Transfer of Control 54
Synchronized Statement 56
Assert Statement 56
Exception Handling Statements 57

Chapter 7: Exception Handling 58

The Exception Hierarchy 58
Checked/Unchecked Exceptions and Errors 59
Common Checked/Unchecked Exceptions and Errors 60
Exception Handling Keywords 62
The Exception Handling Process 65
Defining Your Own Exception Class 66
Printing Information About Exceptions 66

Chapter 8: Java Modifiers 69

Access Modifiers 70
Other (Non-Access) Modifiers 71

Contents | vii

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Part II. Platform

Chapter 9: Java Platform, SE 75

Common Java SE API Libraries 75

Chapter 10: Development Basics 87

Java Runtime Environment 87
Java Development Kit 87
Java Program Structure 88
Command-Line Tools 90
Classpath 96

Chapter 11: Basic Input and Output 97

Standard Streams in, out, and err 97
Class Hierarchy for Basic Input and Output 98
File Reading and Writing 99
Socket Reading and Writing 101
Serialization 103
Zipping and Unzipping Files 104
File and Directory Handling 105

Chapter 12: Java Collections Framework 107

The Collection Interface 107
Implementations 107
Collection Framework Methods 109
Collections Class Algorithms 109
Algorithm Efficiencies 110
Comparator Interface 112

viii | Contents

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Chapter 13: Generics Framework 114
Generic Classes and Interfaces 114
Constructors with Generics 115
Substitution Principle 115
Type Parameters, Wildcards, and Bounds 116
The Get and Put Principle 117
Generic Specialization 118
Generic Methods in Raw Types 119

Chapter 14: Concurrency 120

Creating Threads 120
Thread States 121
Thread Priorities 122
Common Methods 122
Synchronization 123
Concurrent Utilities 125

Chapter 15: Memory Management 129

Garbage Collectors 129
Memory Management Tools 131
Command-Line Options 132
Resizing the JVM Heap 134
Interfacing with the GC 134

Chapter 16: The Java Scripting API 136

Scripting Languages 136
Script Engine Implementations 136
Setting Up Scripting Languages and Engines 138

Contents | ix

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Chapter 17: Third-Party Tools 142
Development Tools 142
Libraries 144
IDEs 144
Web Application Platforms 145
Scripting Languages 147

Chapter 18: UML Basics 149

Class Diagrams 149
Object Diagrams 151
Graphical Icon Representation 152
Connectors 153
Multiplicity Indicators 153
Role Names 154
Class Relationships 154
Sequence Diagrams 156

Index 159

x | Contents

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Chapter 1

Preface

Designed to be your companion in the office, in the lab, or

even on the road, this pocket guide provides a quick refer-
ence to the standard features of the Java™ programming lan-
guage and its platform.
This pocket guide provides you with the information you will
need while developing or debugging your Java programs,
including helpful programming examples, tables, figures, and
lists.
It also contains supplemental information about things such
as the new Java Scripting API, third-party tools, and the
basics of the Unified Modeling Language (UML).
Coverage is provided through the Java 6 Platform.

Book Structure
This book is broken into two sections: language and plat-
form. Chapters 1 through 8 detail the Java programming lan-
guage as derived from the Java Language Specification (JLS).
Chapters 9 though 18 detail Java platform components and
related topics.

xi

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Font Conventions
Italic
Denotes filenames, file extensions (such as .java), and
directory paths.
Constant width
Denotes class names, types, methods, data members,
commands, properties, and values.
Constant width italic
Indicates user-supplied values.

Comments and Questions

Please address comments and questions concerning this
book to the publisher:
O’Reilly Media, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein Highway North
Sebastopol, CA 95472
800-998-9938 (in the United States or Canada)
707-829-0515 (international or local)
707-829-0104 (Fax)
There is a web page for this book, which lists errata, examples,
or any additional information. You can access this page at:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/9780596514198
To comment or ask technical questions about this book,
send email to:
[email protected]
For information about books, conferences, Resource Cen-
ters, and the O’Reilly Network, see the O’Reilly web site at:
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xii | Preface

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Authors
Robert Liguori is a Senior Software Engineer for Management,
Engineering and Technology Associates, Inc. Patricia Liguori is
a Lead Information Systems Engineer for The MITRE Corpora-
tion. The authors may be contacted in regards to comments,
questions, or errata found in this book at [email protected].

Safari® Books Online

When you see a Safari® Books Online
icon on the cover of your favorite technol-
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Safari Bookshelf.
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Acknowledgments
We extend a special thank you to our editor, Mike Loukides.
His Java prowess, responsiveness, and ongoing collaboration
have made writing this book an enjoyable experience.
Appreciation goes out to our technical reviewers and sup-
porters: Mary-Ann Boyce, Kelly Connolly, Edward Finegan,
David Flanagan, David King, Chris Magrin, Confesor Santi-
ago, Wayne Smith, Martin Suech, and our families.

Dedication
This book is dedicated to our daughter, Ashleigh.

Preface | xiii

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www.it-ebooks.info
 PART I
I. Language

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 CHAPTER 1

Naming Conventions

Naming conventions are used to make Java programs more

readable. It is important to use meaningful and unambiguous
names comprised of ASCII letters.

Class Names
Class names should be nouns, as they represent “things” or
“objects.” They should be mixed case with only the first let-
ter of each word capitalized.
public class Fish {...}

Interface Names
Interface names should be adjectives. They should end with
“able” or “ible” whenever the interface provides a capability;
otherwise, they should be nouns. Interface names follow the
same capitalization convention as class names.
public interface Serializable {...}
public interface SystemPanel {...}

Method Names
Method names should contain a verb, as they are used to
make an object take action. They should be mixed case,
beginning with a lowercase letter, and the first letter of each

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internal word should be capitalized. Adjectives and nouns
may be included in method names.
public void locate( ) {...} // verb
public String getWayPoint( ) {...} // verb and noun

Instance and Static Variable Names

Instance variable names should be nouns and should follow
the same capitalization convention as method names.
private String wayPoint;

Parameter and Local Variables Names

Parameter and local variable names should be descriptive
lowercase single words, acronyms, or abbreviations. If multi-
ple words are necessary, they should follow the same capital-
ization convention as method names.
public void printHotSpot(String spot) {
String bestSpot = spot;
System.out.print("Fish here: " + bestSpot);
}

Temporary variable names may be single letters such as i, j,

k, m, and n for integers and c, d, and e for characters.

Generic Type Parameter Names

Generic type parameter names should be uppercase single
letters. The letter T for type is typically recommended.
The Collections Framework makes extensive use of generics.
E is used for collection elements, S is used for service loaders,
and K and V are used for map keys and values.
public interface Map <K,V> {
V put(K key, V value);
}

4 | Chapter 1: Naming Conventions

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Constant Names
Constant names should be all uppercase letters, and multi-
ple words should be separated by underscores.
public static final int MAX_DEPTH = 200;

Enumeration Names
Enumeration names should follow the conventions of class
names. The enumeration set of objects (choices) should be
all uppercase letters.
enum Battery {CRITICAL, LOW, CHARGED, FULL}

Package Names
Package names should be unique and consist of lowercase
letters. Underscores may be used if necessary.
package com.oreilly.fish_finder

Publicly available packages should be the reversed Internet

domain name of the organization, beginning with a single-word
top-level domain name (i.e., com, net, org, or edu), followed by
the name of the organization and the project or division. (Inter-
nal packages are typically named according to the project.)
Package names that begin with java and javax are restricted
and can be used only to provide conforming implementa-
tions to the Java class libraries.

Acronyms
When using acronyms in names, only the first letter of the
acronym should be uppercase and only when uppercase is
appropriate.
public String getGpsVersion( ) {...}

Acronyms | 5

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CHAPTER 2 CHAPTER 2

Lexical Elements

Java source code consists of words or symbols called lexical ele-

ments or tokens. Java lexical elements include line terminators,
whitespace, comments, keywords, identifiers, separators, oper-
ators, and literals. The words or symbols in the Java program-
ming language are comprised of the Unicode character set.

Unicode and ASCII

Unicode is the universal character set with the first 128 char-
acters being the same as those in the American Standard
Code for Information Exchange (ASCII) character set. Uni-
code provides a unique number for every character, given all
platforms, programs, and languages. Unicode 5.0.0 is the lat-
est version, and you can find more about it at http://www.
unicode.org/versions/Unicode5.0.0/.

TIP
Java comments, identifiers, and string literals are not lim-
ited to ASCII characters. All other Java input elements are
formed from ASCII characters.

The Unicode set version used by a specified version of the Java

platform is documented in the class Character of the Java API.

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Printable ASCII Characters
ASCII reserves code 32 (spaces) and codes 33 to 126 (letters,
digits, punctuation marks, and a few others) for printable
characters. Table 2-1 contains the decimal values followed by
the corresponding ASCII characters for these codes.
Table 2-1. Printable ASCII characters
32 SP 48 0 64 @ 80 P 96 ' 112 p
33 ! 49 1 65 A 81 Q 97 a 113 q
34 " 50 2 66 B 82 R 98 b 114 r
35 # 51 3 67 C 83 S 99 c 115 s
36 $ 52 4 68 D 84 T 100 d 116 t
37 % 53 5 69 E 85 U 101 e 117 u
38 & 54 6 70 F 86 V 102 f 118 v
39 ` 55 7 71 G 87 W 103 g 119 w
40 ( 56 8 72 H 88 X 104 h 120 x
41 ) 57 9 73 I 89 Y 105 i 121 y
42 * 58 : 74 J 90 Z 106 j 122 z
43 + 59 ; 75 K 91 [ 107 k 123 {
44 , 60 < 76 L 92 \ 108 l 124 |
45 - 61 = 77 M 93 ] 109 m 125 }
46 . 62 > 78 N 94 ^ 110 n 126 ~
47 / 63 ? 79 O 95 _ 111 o

Non-Printable ASCII Characters

ASCII reserves decimal numbers 0–31 and 127 for control
characters. Table 2-2 contains the decimal values followed by
the corresponding ASCII characters for these codes.

Unicode and ASCII | 7

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Table 2-2. Non-printable ASCII characters
00 NUL 07 BEL 14 SO 21 NAK 28 FS
01 SOH 08 BS 15 SI 22 SYN 29 GS
02 STX 09 HT 16 DLE 23 ETB 30 RS
03 ETX 10 NL 17 DC1 24 CAN 31 US
04 EOT 11 VT 18 DC2 25 EM 127 DEL
05 ENQ 12 NP 19 DC3 26 SUB
06 ACK 13 CR 20 DC4 27 ESC

TIP
ASCII 10 is a newline or linefeed. ASCII 13 is a carriage
return.

Comments
A single-line comment begins with two forward slashes and
ends immediately before the line terminator character.
// A comment on a single line

A multiline comment begins with a forward slash, immedi-

ately followed by an asterisk, and ends with an asterisk
immediately followed by a forward slash.
/* A comment that can span multiple lines
just like this */

A Javadoc comment is processed by the Javadoc tool to gen-

erate API documentation in HTML format. A Javadoc com-
ment must begin with a forward slash, immediately followed
by two asterisks, and end with an asterisk immediately fol-
lowed by a forward slash. You can find more information on
the Javadoc tool at http://java.sun.com/j2se/javadoc/.
/** This is my Javadoc comment */

8 | Chapter 2: Lexical Elements

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In Java, comments cannot be nested.
/* This is /* not permissible */ in Java */

Keywords
Table 2-3 contains the Java keywords. Two of them are
reserved but not used by the Java language: const and goto.
These C++ keywords are included as Java keywords to gen-
erate better error messages if they are used in a Java pro-
gram. Java 5.0 introduced the enum keyword.

TIP
Java keywords cannot be used as identifiers in a Java
program.

Table 2-3. Java keywords

abstract double int super
assert else interface switch
boolean enum long synchronized
break extends native this
byte final new throw
case finally package throws
catch float private transient
char for protected try
class if public void
const goto return volatile
continue implements short while
default import static
do instanceof strictfp

TIP
Sometimes true, false, and null literals are mistaken for
keywords. They are not keywords; they are reserved literals.

Keywords | 9

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Identifiers
A Java identifier is the name that a programmer gives to a
class, method, variable, etc.
Identifiers cannot have the same Unicode character sequence
as any keyword, boolean or null literal.
Java identifiers are made up of Java letters. A Java letter is a
character for which Character.isJavaIdentifierStart(int)
returns true. Java letters from the ASCII character set are
limited to the dollar sign, the underscore symbol, and upper-
and lowercase letters.
Digits are also allowed in identifiers, but after the first
character.
// Valid identifier examples
class TestDriver {...}
String myTestVariable;
int _testVariable;
Long $testVariable;
startTest(testVariable4);

See Chapter 1 for naming guidelines.

Separators
Nine ASCII characters delimit program parts and are used as
separators. ( ), { }, and [ ] are used in pairs.
( ) { } [ ] ; , .

Operators
Operators perform operations on one, two, or three operands
and return a result. Operator types in Java include assignment,
arithmetic, comparison, bitwise, increment/decrement, and
class/object. Table 2-4 contains the Java operators listed in pre-
cedence order (those with the highest precedence at the top of
the table), along with a brief description of the operators and
their associativity (left to right or right to left).

10 | Chapter 2: Lexical Elements

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Table 2-4. Java operators
Precedence Operator Description Association
1 ++,-- Postincrement, Postdecrement R➝L
2 ++,-- Preincrement, Predecrement R➝L
+,- Unary plus, unary minus R➝L
~ Bitwise compliment R➝L
! Boolean NOT R➝L
3 new Create object R➝L
(type) Type cast R➝L
4 *,/,% Multiplication, division, remainder L➝R
5 +,- Addition, subtraction L➝R
+ String concatenation L➝R
6 <<, >>, >>> Left shift, right shift, unsigned right L➝R
shift
7 <, <=, >, >= Less than, less than or equal to, L➝R
greater than, greater than or equal to
instanceof Type comparison L➝R
8 ==, != Value equality and inequality L➝R
==, != Reference equality and inequality L➝R
9 & Boolean AND L➝R
& Bitwise AND L➝R
10 ^ Boolean XOR L➝R
^ Bitwise XOR L➝R
11 | Boolean OR L➝R
| Bitwise OR L➝R
12 && Conditional AND L➝R
13 || Conditional OR L➝R
14 ?: Conditional Ternary Operator L➝R
15 =,+=,-=, *=,/ Assignment Operators R➝L
=,%=,&=,^=,
|=, <<=, >>
=, >>>=

Operators | 11

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Literals
Literals are source code representation of values.
For more information on primitive type literals, see the “Lit-
erals for Primitive Types” section in Chapter 3.

Boolean Literals
Boolean literals are expressed as either true or false.
boolean isReady = true;
boolean isSet = new Boolean(false);
boolean isGoing = false;

Character Literals
A character literal is either a single character or an escape
sequence contained within single quotes. Line terminators
are not allowed.
char charValue1 = 'a';
// An apostrophe
Character charValue2 = new Character ('\'');

Integer Literals
Integer types (byte, short, int, and long) can be expressed in
decimal, hexadecimal, and octal. By default, integer literals
are of type int.
int intValue = 34567;

Decimal integers contain any number of ASCII digits zero

through nine and represent positive numbers.
Integer decimalValue = new Integer(100);

Prefixing the decimal with the unary negation operator can

form a negative decimal.
int negDecimalValue = -200;

12 | Chapter 2: Lexical Elements

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Hexadecimal literals begin with 0x or 0X, followed by the
ASCII digits 0 through 9 and the letters a through f (or A
through F). Java is not case-sensitive when it comes to hexa-
decimal literals.
Hex numbers can represent positive and negative integers
and zero.
int hexValue = 0X64; // 100 decimal

Octal literals begin with a zero followed by one or more

ASCII digits zero through seven.
int octalValue = 0144; // 100 decimal

To define an integer as type long, suffix it with an ASCII let-

ter L (preferred and more readable) or l.
long longValue = 500L;

Floating-Point Literals
A valid floating-point literal requires a whole number and/or
a fractional part, decimal point, and type suffix. An expo-
nent prefaced by an e or E is optional. Fractional parts and
decimals are not required when exponents or type suffixes
are applied.
A floating-point literal (double) is a double-precision floating
point of eight bytes. A float is four bytes. Type suffices for
doubles are d or D; suffices for floats are f or F.
[whole-number].[fractional_part][e|E exp][d|D|f|F]

float floatValue1 = 9.15f;

Float floatValue2 = new Float(20F);
double doubleValue1 = 3.12;
Double doubleValue2 = new Double(1e058);

Literals | 13

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String Literals
String literals contain zero or more characters, including escape
sequences enclosed in a set of double quotes. String literals
cannot contain Unicode \u000a and \u000d for line termina-
tors; use \r and \n instead. Strings are immutable.
String stringValue1 = new String("Valid literal.");
String stringValue2 = "Valid.\nMoving to next line.";
String stringValue3 = "Joins str" + "ings";
String stringValue4 = "\"Escape Sequences\"\r";

There is a pool of strings associated with class String. Ini-

tially the pool is empty. Literal strings and string-valued con-
stant expressions are interned in the pool and added to the
pool only once.
The example below shows how literals are added to and used
in the pool.
// Adds String "thisString" to the pool
String stringValue7 = "thisString";
// Uses String "thisString" from the pool
String stringValue8 = "thisString";

A string can be added to the pool (if it does not already exist
in the pool) by calling the intern( ) method on the string.
The intern( ) method returns a string, which is either a
reference to the new string that was added to the pool or a
reference to the already existing string.
String stringValue9 = new String("thatString");
String stringValue10 = stringValue9.intern( );

Null Literals
The null literal is of type null and can be applied to refer-
ence types. It does not apply to primitive types.
String n = null;

14 | Chapter 2: Lexical Elements

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Escape Sequences
Table 2-5 provides the set of escape sequences in Java.
Table 2-5. Character and string literal escape sequences
Name Sequence Decimal Unicode
Backspace \b 8 \u0008
Horizontal tab \t 9 \u0009
Line feed \n 10 \u000A
Form feed \f 12 \u000C
Carriage return \r 13 \u000D
Double quote \” 34 \u0022
Single quote \’ 39 \u0027
Backslash \\ 92 \u005C

Different line terminators are used for different platforms to

achieve a newline; see Table 2-6. The println( ) method,
which includes a line break, is a better solution than hard-
coding \n and \r, when used appropriately.
Table 2-6. Newline variations
Operating system Newline
POSIX-compliant operating systems (i.e., LF (\n)
Solaris, Linux) and Mac OS X
Mac OS up to version 9 CR (\r)
Microsoft Windows CR+LF (\r\n)

Unicode Currency Symbols

Unicode currency symbols are present in the range of \u20A0-
\u20CF (8352-8399). See Table 2-7 for examples.

Unicode Currency Symbols | 15

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Table 2-7. Currency symbols within range
Name Symbol Decimal Unicode
Franc sign 8355 \u20A3
Lira sign 8356 \u20A4
Mill sign 8357 \u20A5
Rupee sign 8360 \u20A8
Euro sign 8364 \u20AC

A number of currency symbols exist outside of the desig-

nated currency range. See Table 2-8 for examples.
Table 2-8. Currency symbols outside of range
Name Symbol Decimal Unicode
Dollar sign $ 36 \u0024
Cent sign ¢ 162 \u00A2
Pound sign £ 163 \u00A3
Currency sign 164 \u00A4
Yen sign 165 \u00A5
Yen/Yuan variant 22278 \u5706

16 | Chapter 2: Lexical Elements

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 CHAPTER 3

Fundamental Types

Fundamental types include the Java primitive types and their

corresponding wrapper classes/reference types. Java 5.0 and
beyond provide for automatic conversion between these
primitive and reference types through autoboxing and
unboxing; see the “Autoboxing and Unboxing” section, later
in this chapter. Numeric promotion is applied to primitive
types where appropriate.

Primitive Types
There are eight primitive types in Java; each is a reserved key-
word. They describe variables that contain single values of
the appropriate format and size; see Table 3-1. Primitive
types are always the specified precision, regardless of the
underlying hardware precisions (e.g., 32- or 64-bit).
Table 3-1. Primitive types
Type Detail Storage Range
boolean true or false 1 bit Not applicable
char Unicode character 2 bytes \u0000 to \uFFFF
byte integer 1 byte –128 to 127
short integer 2 bytes –32768 to 32767
int integer 4 bytes –2147483648 to
2147483647
long integer 8 bytes –263 to 263 –1

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Table 3-1. Primitive types (continued)
Type Detail Storage Range
float floating point 4 bytes 1.4e–45 to 3.4e+38
double floating point 8 bytes 5e–324 to 1.8e+308

TIP
Primitive types byte, short, int, long, float, and double
are all signed. Type char is unsigned.

Literals for Primitive Types

All primitive types, except boolean, can accept character, dec-
imal, hexadecimal, octal, and Unicode literal formats, as well
as character escape sequences. Where appropriate, the literal
value is automatically cast or converted. Remember that bits
are lost during truncation. The following is a list of primitive
assignment examples:
boolean isTitleFight = true;
The boolean primitive’s only valid literal values are true
and false.
char[] cArray = {'\u004B', 'O', '\'', 0x0064, 041,
(char) 131105}; // KO’d!!
The char primitive represents a single Unicode charac-
ter. Literal values of the char primitive that are greater
than two bytes need to be explicitly cast.
byte rounds = 12, fighters = (byte) 2;
The byte primitive has a four byte signed integer as its
valid literal. If an explicit cast is not performed, the inte-
ger is implicitly cast to one byte.

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short seatingCapacity = 17157, vipSeats = (short) 500;
The short primitive has a four byte signed integer as its
valid literal. If an explicit cast is not performed, the inte-
ger is implicitly cast to two bytes.
int ppvRecord = 19800000, vs = vipSeats, venues = (int)
20000.50D;
The int primitive has a four byte signed integer as its
valid literal. When char, byte, and short primitives are
used as literals, they are automatically cast to four byte
integers, as in the case of the short value within vipSeats.
Floating-point and long literals must be explicitly cast.
long wins = 38L, losses = 4l, draws = 0, knockouts =
(long) 30;
The long primitive uses an eight byte signed integer as its
valid literal. It is designated by an L or l postfix. The
value is cast from four bytes to eight bytes when no post-
fix or cast is applied.
float payPerView = 54.95F, balcony = 200.00f, ringside =
(float) 2000, cheapSeats = 50;
The float primitive has a four byte signed floating point
as its valid literal. An F or f postfix or an explicit cast des-
ignates it. No explicit cast is necessary for an int literal
because an int fits in a float.
double champsPay = 20000000.00D, challengersPay =
12000000.00d, chlTrainerPay = (double) 1300000,
refereesPay = 3000, soda = 4.50;
The double primitive uses an eight byte signed floating
point value as its valid literal. The literal can have a D, d,
or explicit cast with no postfix. If the literal is an integer,
it is implicitly cast.
See Chapter 2 for more details on literals.

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Floating-Point Entities
Positive and negative floating-point infinities, negative zero,
and Not-a-Number (NaN) are special entities defined to
meet the IEEE 754-1985 standard; see Table 3-2.
The Infinity, –Infinity, and –0.0 entities are returned when
an operation creates a floating-point value that is too large to
be traditionally represented.
Table 3-2. Floating-point entities
Entity Description Examples
Infinity Represents the concept of positive infinity 1.0 / 0.0,
1e300 / 1e–300,
Math.abs (–1.0 / 0.0)
–Infinity Represents the concept of negative infinity –1.0 / 0.0,
1.0 / (–0.0),
1e300/–1e–300
–0.0 Represents a negative number close to zero –1.0 / (1.0 / 0.0),
–1e300 / 1e300
NaN Represents undefined results 0.0 / 0.0,
1e300 * Float.NaN,
Math.sqrt (–9.0)

Positive infinity, negative infinity, and NaN entities are avail-

able as double and float constants.
Double.POSITIVE_INFINITY; // Infinity
Float.POSITIVE_INFINITY; // Infinity
Double.NEGATIVE_INFINITY; // –Infinity
Float.NEGATIVE_INFINITY; // –Infinity
Double.NaN; // Not-a-Number
Float.NaN; // Not-a-Number

Operations Involving Special Entities

Table 3-3 shows the results of special entity operations where
the operands are abbreviated as: INF for Double.POSITIVE_
INFINITY, –INF for Double.NEGATIVE_INFINITY, and NAN for
Double.NaN.

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For example, column four’s heading entry (–0.0) and row
twelve’s entry (+ NAN) have a result of NaN, and could be writ-
ten as follows:
// 'NaN' will be printed
System.out.print((-0.0) + Double.NaN);

Table 3-3. Operations involving special entities

INF (–INF) (–0.0)
* INF Infinity –Infinity NaN
+ INF Infinity NaN Infinity
– INF NaN –Infinity –Infinity
/ INF NaN NaN –0.0
* 0.0 NaN NaN –0.0
+ 0.0 Infinity –Infinity 0.0
+ 0.5 Infinity –Infinity 0.5
* 0.5 Infinity –Infinity –0.0
+ (–0.5) Infinity –Infinity –0.5
* (–0.5) –Infinity Infinity 0.0
+ NAN NaN NaN NaN
* NAN NaN NaN NaN

TIP
Any operation performed on NaN results in NaN; there is no
such thing as –NaN.

Numeric Promotion of Primitive Types

Numeric promotion consists of rules that are applied to the
operands of an arithmetic operator under certain conditions.
Numeric promotion rules consist of both unary and binary
promotion rules.

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Unary Numeric Promotion
When a primitive of a numeric type is part of an expression,
as listed in Table 3-4, the following promotion rules are
applied:
• If the operand is of type byte, short, or char, the type will
be promoted to type int.
• Otherwise, the type of the operand remains unchanged.
Table 3-4. Expression for unary promotion rules
Expression
Operand of a unary plus operator +
Operand of a unary minus operator –
Operand of a bitwise complement operator ~
All shift operators >>, >>>, or <<
Index expression in an array access expression
Dimension expression in an array creation expression

Binary Numeric Promotion

When two primitives of different numerical types are com-
pared via the operators listed in Table 3-5, one type is pro-
moted based on the following binary promotion rules:
• If either operand is of type double, the non-double primi-
tive is converted to type double.
• If either operand is of type float, the non-float primitive
is converted to type float.
• If either operand is of type long, the non-long primitive is
converted to type long.
• Otherwise, both operands are converted to int.

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Table 3-5. Operators for binary promotion rules
Operators Description
+ and – Additive operators
*, /, and % Multiplicative operators
<, <=, >, and >= Comparison operators
== and != Equality operators
&, ^, and | Bitwise operators
? : Conditional operator (see next section)

Special Cases for Conditional Operators

• If one operand is of type byte and the other is of type
short, the conditional expression will be of type short.
short = true ? byte : short
• If one operand R is of type byte, short, or char, and the
other is a constant expression of type int whose value is
within range of R, the conditional expression is of type R.
short = (true ? short : 1967)
• Else, binary numeric promotion is applied and the condi-
tional expression type will be that of the promoted type
of the second and third operands.

Wrapper Classes
Each of the primitive types has a corresponding wrapper
class/reference type, which is located in package java.lang.
Each wrapper class has a variety of methods including one to
return the type’s value, as shown in Table 3-6. These integer
and floating-point wrapper classes can return values of sev-
eral primitive types.

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Table 3-6. Wrapper classes
Primitive types Reference types Methods to get primitive values
boolean Boolean booleanValue( )
char Character charValue( )
byte Byte byteValue( )
short Short shortValue( )
int Integer intValue( )
long Long longValue( )
float Float floatValue( )
double Double doubleValue( )

Autoboxing and Unboxing

Autoboxing and unboxing are typically used for collections
of primitives. Autoboxing involves the dynamic allocation of
memory and initialization of an object for each primitive.
Note that the overhead can often exceed the execution time
of the desired operation. Unboxing involves the production
of a primitive for each object.
Computationally intensive tasks using primitives, e.g., iterating
through primitives in a container, should be done using arrays
of primitives in preference to collections of wrapper objects.

Autoboxing
Autoboxing is the automatic conversion of primitive types to
their corresponding wrapper classes. In this example, the
prizefighter’s weight of 147 is automatically converted to its
corresponding wrapper class because collections store refer-
ences, not primitive values.
// Create hash map of weight groups
HashMap<String, Integer> weightGroups
= new HashMap<String, Integer> ( );
weightGroups.put("welterweight", 147);
weightGroups.put("middleweight", 160);
weightGroups.put("cruiserweight", 200);

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The following example shows an acceptable but not recom-
mended use of Autoboxing:
// Establish weight allowance
Integer weightAllowanceW = 5; //improper

TIP
For these examples, wrapper class variables end with a
capital W. This is not the convention.

As there is no reason to force autoboxing, the above state-

ment should be written as follows:
Integer weightAllowanceW = new Integer (5);

Unboxing
Unboxing is the automatic conversion of the wrapper classes
to their corresponding primitive types. In this example, a ref-
erence type is retrieved from the hash map. It is automati-
cally unboxed so that it can fit into the primitive type.
// Get the stored weight limit
int weightLimitP = weightGroups.get(middleweight);

TIP
For these examples, primitive variables end with a capital P.
This is not the convention.

The following example shows an acceptable but not recom-

mended use of unboxing:
// Establish the weight allowance
weightLimitP = weightLimitP + weightAllowanceW;

This expression can also be equivalently written with the

intValue( ) method, as shown here:
weightLimitP = weightLimitP + weightAllowanceW.intValue(
);

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CHAPTER 4 CHAPTER 4

Reference Types

Reference types hold references to objects and provide a

means to access those objects stored somewhere in memory.
The memory locations are irrelevant to programmers. All ref-
erence types are a subclass of type java.lang.Object.
Table 4-1 lists the five Java reference types.
Table 4-1. Reference types
Reference types Brief description
Annotation Provides a way to associate metadata (data about data) with
program elements.
Array Provides a fixed-size data structure that stores data elements of
the same type.
Class Designed to provide inheritance, polymorphism, and
encapsulation. Usually models something in the real world and
consists of a set of values that holds data and a set of methods
that operates on the data.
Enumeration A reference for a set of objects that represents a related set of
choices.
Interface Provides a public API and is “implemented” by Java classes.

Comparing Reference Types to Primitive

Types
There are two categories of types in Java: reference types and
primitive types. Table 4-2 shows some of the key compari-
sons between them. See Chapter 3 for more details.

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Table 4-2. Reference types compared to primitive types
Reference types Primitive types
Unlimited number of reference types, as Consists of boolean and numeric types:
they are user-defined. char, byte, short, int, long,
float, and double.
Memory location stores a reference to the Memory location stores actual data held
data. by the primitive type.
When a reference type is assigned to When a value of a primitive is assigned to
another reference type, both will point to another variable of the same type, a copy
the same object. is made.
When an object is passed into a method, When a primitive is passed into a method,
the called method can change the only a copy of the primitive is passed. The
contents of the object passed to it but not called method does not have access to the
the address of the object. original primitive value and therefore
cannot change it. The called method can
change the copied value.

Default Values
Instance and Local Variable Objects
Instance variable objects (objects declared at the class level)
have a default value of null. null references nothing.
Local variable objects (objects declared within a method) do
not have a default value, not even a value of null. Always ini-
tialize local objects because they are not given a default
value. Checking an uninitialized local variable object for a
value (including a value of null) will result in a compile-time
error.
Although object references with a value of null do not refer
to any object on the heap, objects set to null can be refer-
enced in code without receiving compile-time or runtime
errors.
Date dateOfParty = null;
// This is ok
if (dateOfParty == null) {
...
}

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Invoking a method on a reference variable that is null or
using the dot operator on the object will result in a java.
lang.NullPointerException.
String theme = null;
//This will result in an exception
//if theme is still set to null
if (theme.getLength( ) > MAX_LENGTH) {
...
}

Arrays
Arrays are always given a default value whether they are
declared as instance variables or local variables. Arrays that
are declared but not initialized are given a default value of
null.
In the code below, the gameList array is initialized but not
the individual values, meaning that the object references will
have a value of null. Objects have to be added to the array.
// This declared array named gameList
// is initialized to null by default
Game[] gameList;

// This array has been initialized but

// the object references are still null
// since the array contains no objects
gameList = new Game[10];

// Add a Game object to the list

// Now the list has one object
gameList[0] = new Game( );

Conversion of Reference Types

An object can be converted to the type of its superclass (wid-
ening) or any of its subclasses (narrowing).
The compiler checks conversions at compile time and the
JVM checks conversions at runtime.

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Widening Conversions
• Widening implicitly converts a subclass to a parent class
(superclass).
• Widening conversions do not throw runtime exceptions.
• No explicit cast is necessary.
String s = new String( );
Object o = s; // widening

Narrowing Conversions
• Narrowing converts a more general type into a more spe-
cific type.
• Narrowing is a conversion of a superclass to a subclass.
• An explicit cast is required. To cast an object to another
object, place the type of object you are casting to in paren-
theses immediately before the object you are casting.
Object a = new Object;
String b = (String)a; // Cast to String
• Illegitimate narrowing results in a ClassCastException.
• Narrowing may result in a loss of data/precision.
Objects cannot be converted to an unrelated type—that is, a
type other than one of its subclasses or superclasses. Doing
so will generate an inconvertible types error at compile
time. The following is an example of a conversion that will
result in a compile-time error due to inconvertible types:
Object c = "balloons";
int d = (int) c; // compile-time error

Converting Between Primitives and

Reference Types
The automatic conversion of primitive types to reference
types and vice versa is called autoboxing and unboxing,
respectively. For more information, see Chapter 3.

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Exploring the Variety of Random
Documents with Different Content
and perceptions more acute. The frog, whom she had left sitting
upon the timepiece, looked across at her. Rosalie gained assurance
from that glance.
She sat down without any remark, and took up the book she had
been reading, making some pretence of continuing her occupation as
before.
“I’ve heard a rumour,” said Miss Crokerly presently, “that the
Great High Priest is resigning.”
“Who is he?” asked Rosalie absently.
“The Great High Priest of the Serpent,” continued Miss Crokerly.
“I can scarcely credit it, though. He is barely seventy-two. And he can
have no reason for it either. It’s an office never vacated till death.
Dotage doesn’t count.”
“Maybe he is more conscientious than most,” said Rosalie, rousing
herself from her own line of thought to take an interest in the
conversation.
“I don’t know, I’m sure. There have been whispers of it for the last
three years. I think he has enemies.”
“I suppose all men in prominent positions have.”
“Yes; but there are enemies and enemies. Now my opinion of the
Great High Priest is that he has hidden enemies, or perhaps he
chances to be merely unfortunate.”
“What do you mean?” asked Rosalie, beginning to be interested in
the conversation.
“Well, it began with a scandal. A rumour got about that he had
admitted a woman to see the Serpent, and some said such conduct
was nothing short of blasphemous. But that was either hushed up or
contradicted. Contradicted, I think, and then hushed up.”
“Would it be such a terrible thing for a woman to see the Serpent?”
Miss Crokerly smiled.
“Well, there’s a great deal of superstition and ignorance mixed up
with our religion, as all simple and right-minded people can see. But
it grows in suitable soil, so it’s strong and holds well together.”
“And did it not please the people that a woman had seen the
Serpent?”
 “Naturally not, after thousands of years of prejudice. Some of the
best—by that I mean the narrowest—women I know withdrew their
support (they were extremely wealthy) from the temple for some
months during the scandal. They said they felt the brightness of the
Serpent had been sullied.”
“Absurd!” said Rosalie; and the blood began to course a little
quicker through her veins from indignation.
“Well,” said Miss Crokerly slowly, “one can’t judge quickly. Of
course you know the Great High Priest is not allowed to have a wife.
She is separated from him the day he takes up office, and if he did
admit a woman from idle curiosity to see the Serpent—well, judged
from one point, it was very serious.”
“Maybe,” said Rosalie, whose tongue was itching to say much
more. “But do you think there was any truth in it?”
“Well, yes. A woman’s handkerchief with a red rose embroidered
in the corner was found upon the altar.”
“Never!” said Rosalie, with such a visible jump and accents so
sharp that Miss Crokerly looked up, and the frog’s eyes grew wide
with warning.
“It was so, indeed. My brother had it on good authority. One of the
Golden Priests went in that evening to offer the prayer at the New
Moon. He found it there. And then this hushed-up scandal followed.”
Again Rosalie was silent, why, she could scarcely tell. She
recognised the handkerchief, which in after events she had never
missed. It was her aunt’s birthday gift, with a little silk-embroidered
rose in the corner instead of a name.
“But why did the Golden Priest remark upon it?” asked Rosalie.
“That is what I say. And it is that which makes me think the Great
High Priest has enemies.”
“But such a thing as that, once died down, could not make him
resign.”
“Perhaps not. But I don’t think it ever really did die down. And last
year at the ‘Feast of White Souls,’ after the Fast of Black Ones, as he
was coming out from between the curtains to sprinkle white confetti
down the temple aisles, a most unfortunate thing occurred. The
crimson curtain suddenly tore from the rings and fell, and there
behind, to the view of a mixed assembly, shone out the Golden
Serpent. I was there myself, having gone to hear the music, for on
these occasions it is very fine, and was sitting with my brother quite
near to the choir stalls.”
“And what did you do?”
“Well, it was very strange, but we all instinctively did the same
thing. I took one real good look at the Serpent (and I don’t know any
woman there who didn’t, except those who screamed, and some who
fainted, for what, it would be hard to tell), and then, from a sense of
what was due to the male part of the congregation, we covered our
eyes with our handkerchiefs, and all turning our backs upon the God
we worshipped, were led solemnly out, with comparatively little
confusion. The service could not continue, and that event has made
him the most unpopular man on Lucifram.”
“Then,” said Rosalie, half laughing, half sarcastically, leaning back
in her chair, and looking at the fire, “I should say it would not be a
bad idea to introduce a ‘Feast of Handkerchiefs’ to take the place of
the unfortunate White Souls. A handkerchief betrayed one woman
and saved the rest. It should receive a place of honour in the temple.”
“What a pity he did not take it in that way,” said Miss Crokerly.
“But I’ve heard since that the occurrence has depressed him terribly.
And the last news is that he is resigning.”
“And which of the Golden Priests was it who spread the first
report?”
“His name is Alphonso. I know him slightly, but do not care for
him. I think him ambitious, and unscrupulous, and narrow-minded.
I cannot help but think myself he is the greatest enemy the High
Priest has, though there are some who uphold him as the strictest
and highest principled man within the Church.”
“I dislike him already,” said Rosalie impulsively.
The other laughed.
“Well, you will have an opportunity of meeting him to-morrow
night at the Sebberens’. He is unmarried, so you may be as charming
as you like to him, and no one’s heart will break. But for all that he’s
greatly run after by the women. They regard the Golden Priests and
the Great High Priest as demi-gods.”
 The Golden Priests were those whose rank came next to that of the
Great High Priest, and when this latter died his place was always
filled from this exclusive body of great men, the wealthiest and most
powerful in the Church of Lucifram.
“Oh! that will make me dislike him all the more,” said Rosalie.
“The men who are run after by women, and the women who are run
after by men, are both equally detestable. I mean, of course, in
excess.”
“But that is fascination.”
“I prefer the fascination that is clever enough to captivate its own
sex.”
“Well, men admire him in an intellectual capacity.”
“A general favourite? Most insipid!”
“Really, Rosalie!” said Miss Crokerly, and she laughed.
“You cannot expect me to love him. A man should always be loyal
to his superior.”
“Well, of course, I am only giving you my own opinion. And you
must not repeat it on any account; because it is not generally
believed or certain that he might be prompted by motives of
ambition to make known the incident of the handkerchief.”
“I hope that if the High Priest does resign someone less self-
seeking takes his place.”
“Than Golden Priest Alphonso? But that is scarcely likely. He has
Mr. Barringcourt for his great friend, and—What is the matter,
Rosalie? Your cheeks are all aflame.”
“Oh! I—I—I’ve had springes of toothache all day, and the sudden
pain makes me flush. I’m all right now. What were you saying?”
“Alphonso is sure to succeed to the High Priestship sooner or later.
He has much influence on his side—the Prime Minister, and Lord
High All Superior for public and official friends, and Mr.
Barringcourt, whom I just mentioned, who has great influence in
outside circles, and more money apparently than even poor Geoffrey
Todbrook had. Now there’s a man for you to dislike cordially on the
grounds of general favouritism. The women idolise him, and men
will hear no wrong of him.”
 “And what kind of a life does he lead? Is he a good man?” asked
Rosalie, leaning forward and looking across at her.
“I don’t know. My brother thinks greatly of him, and so do I. But
it’s hard to tell who’s good and who’s bad when you come to private
life. There are so many things for and against it.”
“Of course.”
“Still, I think as rich men go, who are young and unfettered by
anything, he must be fairly good. I don’t remember ever hearing
anything against him. And I know he has carried out all Geoffrey
Todbrook’s wishes with regard to charities to the letter.”
“Is he executor?”
“Yes.”
“Then it would be surprising if he fell short of his duties, would it
not?”
“Perhaps so. I expect he too will be at the Sebberens’ to-morrow
night But if you have any conversation with Mr. Barringcourt at all,
you cannot choose but like him.”
“Is his temper unfailingly pleasant, then?”
“No; it isn’t altogether that. I have known him very absent and off-
hand. But I suppose people occasionally find that rather pleasant in a
world of suavity and insincerity.”
“I don’t agree with you. I’d rather have people unfailingly suave. It
spares a great deal of friction.”
“What has upset you, Rosalie? You are most argumentative to-
night.”
“I expect you are spoiling me, and I’ve never been accustomed to
it. You should treat me with stern severity, and you would find me
improve wonderfully.”
“And you just preaching unfailing suavity.”
“Oh! I preach by the Creed of Contrary.”
But Rosalie’s argumentative mood sprang really from the irritation
that followed on the evening’s escapade.
In a cooler moment, and on reflection, she was not over and above
proud of the way in which she had fled so precipitately before the
enemy. And yet what was there to be done? To have stood still was to
have hazarded, so Rosalie thought, far more than she had any
intention of hazarding. She registered a mental vow never to go out
at night alone again, and wished, oh! wished most intensely, that
nothing had tempted her out that night. In her own room the frog
broke the silence by saying:
“You seem very upset to-night.”
“Yes. I—I met Mr. Barringcourt, and I ran away.”
“What made you run?”
“I was frightened of him.”
“What harm could he work you?”
“Oh! he might have persuaded me in a moment of weakness I
owed him a debt of gratitude.”
“And yet you have the kiss of freedom on your brow.”
“Yes; but like most abstract things, it sank before the concrete.”
“You’ll get over it by the morning. Sleep upon it.”
“I should have had you with me. You have far less fear than I. The
farther off the episodes of Marble House become the more I dread
them. They seemed all right, and yet they were all wrong.”
“Miss Crokerly said you would probably meet Mr. Barringcourt to-
morrow night.”
“Yes, I know. And it was only this morning I congratulated myself
he was not in her set, and that I should never be likely to meet him.”
“If you meet Mr. Barringcourt to-morrow night, you won’t run
away—will you?”
“No; because it will be light, and there will be people about, and I
shall have you. No, I won’t run away in any case. But you will come
with me?”
“Of course! I should have very much enjoyed the fresh air to-night;
but you did not invite me.”
“I’m sorry. But I’ve paid the penalty of my negligence; from
henceforth you must never leave me.”
“What dress do you intend to wear to-morrow night?”
“The one I have worn all along.”
 “It’s as shabby as if you’d been digging in it. But the morning may
bring you another.”
“I hope it may not be very heavy, in case I should have to depend
on my heels again.”
 CHAPTER XXIV
AT THE SEBBERENS’

The Sebberens were people who indulged greatly in private

theatricals and other sorts of entertainment. With the amateur they
included the professional, and in between the acts, songs and
recitations were contributed by the latter.
Mr. Sebberen had been engaged in pork, and had made enough
money thereby to make the pig respected—as an investment, anyway.
He married a waitress in a restaurant, who was neither more nor less
charming and handsome than most of her class. She had ambitions,
and was young.
But for ten long years they had no children, and never a scrap of
the pig was wasted. And those ten years were years of increase. Then
to put spirit to an ambition somewhat sordid, a little daughter was
born. Both parents were beside themselves with joy. It is not
everyone who can manage so much, after breeding nothing but gold
or pork, and so they felt. It’s a common thing to be a mother after a
lapse of one year, but after ten! they grew proud on the strength of it.
And another ten years had trebled the ample fortune, nay, more
than trebled it, and Mr. Sebberen, a comparatively young man—
scarce forty—found himself with a daughter only ten years old.
Another decade saw her twenty, he in the prime of life, her mother
too. “Sebberen’s Pork” was of world-wide fame. The king and the
chief prince had it on their breakfast tables; the poor still bought the
sausages, and doctors still evinced a weakness for onions, milk, and
tripe.
No one would have known, to walk into this grand house, that its
occupants once lived behind a little pork shop. For Susiebelle was
handsome and clever, and had taught her mother a thing or two, and
made great friends at school, not from any particular virtue, but from
the glamour of outside show. She had a great deal of the outward
semblance of that inward spirit that had made her father what he
was. She was shallow and brilliant, and a perfect mimic of the world.
When the world wept, she wept. They called her tender-hearted.
When it laughed, she also laughed. They called her gay.
When in a mood for admiration, she, too, had time for adulation,
admired arts and music, knotted her pretty brows at science, and
bought rich copies of all the works of fashionable poets. And what
was all this for?
Susiebelle at twenty made up her mind to marry, and marry as well
as could be. Her father had just had a tremendous stroke of luck in
business. She set her mind upon a duke, shooting high to reach as far
as fortune favoured.
One year had passed away, and Susiebelle’s ambition has not yet
been granted. A poor baronet, an insipid, weak-eyed lord; not bad for
a beginning, certainly.
And this brings us to to-night, the amateur theatricals, and gay
company.
Sir John was under commission to paint the lovely Susiebelle, and
had undertaken it with a fine courtesy that made her mother glow
with pride to think the great were servants of the—the small. And Sir
John would do it successfully after all, for she was pretty enough to
appeal to the sense of beauty in any artist, and her parents were over
and above willing to pay.
And that is why Sir John went to the party—from motives of
conscientiousness. And Miss Crokerly went because she wished to
give pleasure to Rosalie. She, an ideal chaperon and friend. And
Rosalie went because there was no way out of it.
But Rosalie’s dress was in itself that night a thing of beauty. Green,
as bright and dazzling a green as the frog’s coat, that fitted to her
graceful figure as perfectly as the shining scales of a serpent’s coils,
worked with tiny seed jewels and edgings of gold.
“You look just like the mermaid,” said the frog, “your hair is so
pale, and your eyes so bright, and your skin so fair, and your lips are
as red as coral.”
 And Rosalie looked in the glass just as once before when
comparing herself with Mariana, and laughed again just as then, and
clasped her hands.
Then, when she was ready, she went to Miss Crokerly’s room, who,
on seeing her, uttered an exclamation of surprise.
“What is the matter?” asked Rosalie.
“I believe your frog is a beautifier. Take care no one steals it in the
crush to-night. Or perhaps I ought to take the credit to myself. I
think I shall. You have improved in appearance since coming here,
Rosalie, and to-night you look quite radiant.”
“Thank you,” and with a sudden touch of impulsiveness Rosalie
kissed her. “You are so kind to me that the credit is yours.”
When they reached the Sebberens’ the large party was assembling
in the great drawing-room, which had been changed into a theatre
for the occasion. Supper was to follow, but light refreshments were
being handed round, and proved very useful to take the chill off the
commencement, as it were. And music not too obtrusive helped
digestion. Rosalie’s heart beat quicker as they entered the brilliantly-
lit room, advance and retreat covered by Miss Crokerly and her
brother, before and behind.
Just inside the wide doors stood Mrs. Sebberen talking to a grey-
haired man; Susiebelle was busy behind the curtain, so could not be
in attendance upon the guests.
She greeted Miss Crokerly effusively, stared, as is perfectly
compatible with good manners, at Rosalie from head to foot, became
effusive to her, and then bestowed the same greeting upon Sir John.
There was no doubt about it, she was a happy and genial woman. She
evidently considered them among her guests of honour or chief
friendship, for in person she conducted them to a line of seats near to
the front. She was dressed in rich black satin, and looked handsome
enough to be imposing.
On the way she talked much to Miss Crokerly, but looked much at
Rosalie, her dress, her face, the curious little animal upon her
shoulder.
Beyond a certain interest, Rosalie read nothing in her glance. Then
when they were seated, she passed away again, and Rosalie found
time to look around. Everything and everybody were very brilliant.
And she recognised some of her new acquaintances, but none more
intimate. At last she whispered to Miss Crokerly—Sir John had left
them for the moment:
“Where is the Golden Priest Alphonso?”
Miss Crokerly’s sharp eyes travelled round the assembly.
“He is not here yet,” said she. “Of course I don’t know, but I expect
that he will come. There is Lady Flamington and her husband. Is she
not beautiful? but very sad-looking.”
“Lady Flamington—Lady Flamington! Oh! where is she?” said
Rosalie, in an eager voice.
But just then the lady spoken of, who was sitting some distance to
the right a row in front, turned round, and seeing Miss Crokerly, rose
and came toward her. Her smile was very pleasant.
“I am deserting my husband for better company,” said she. “I
dragged him here against his will, low be it spoken, and am paying
the penalty in sulks. Your brother is easier to manage, Miss
Crokerly.”
“The privilege of management is not mine. I am only his sister.”
The other shook her head.
“You are too modest. There was never a man yet who governed
himself; he couldn’t manage it. It ends in sudden death or
corpulency. Both are dreadful things.”
Miss Crokerly laughed.
“You will perhaps have heard what heavy responsibilities I have
taken upon myself lately.”
“Yes; I hear you have turned chaperon,” and Lady Flamington
looked across at Rosalie and smiled as pleasantly as before.
Miss Crokerly introduced them.
“Are you fond of private theatricals?” she asked.
“I’ve never been to any,” replied Rosalie candidly.
“She was an only child, and brought up very strictly,” said Miss
Crokerly, at which Lady Flamington said “Oh!” and looked toward
the door.
She remained sitting by them till the play began, talking with both
of them. At last she said to Rosalie:
 “Do you know, I have the oddest sensation that I have met you
before.”
“I don’t think so,” said Rosalie. “I have a very good memory for
faces, and I have never seen you anywhere.”
“Perhaps I am mistaken. People often resemble each other so
curiously.”
But now silence was imposed. The play had begun in earnest, and
it was quite interesting enough to retain the attention. When the act
was over, a song by a very well-known singer was announced; but
before this came off a few late arrivals made their entrance.
“There is the Golden Priest,” said Miss Crokerly.
He came in with two more gentleman. He was tall and thin, with a
narrow face and black hair. His eyes were deeply set and fixed close
together. His nose was long, and his lips very thin and straight. He
looked clever; beyond that he was scarcely prepossessing, but he was
evidently made much of in that assembly. They gave him a seat upon
the very first row. And yet he never ceased to preach that the pig was
unclean! It was a canon of the Church.
The play had more fine dresses in it than cleverness or substance,
but it was received as warmly as the more deserving performances
during the interludes.
Everybody was in high good-humour apparently, and the next day
the paper said it was the most successful entertainment and supper
party Mrs. Sebberen had ever given, which, coming from such good
authority, must have been the truth.
When the temporary curtain had fallen for the last time upon
general and good-natured applause, a movement was made toward
the supper-room.
They put a little round-headed man with weak eyes to look after
Rosalie. He blinked upon her critically, and then smiled. Rosalie did
not like him.
However, not being dumb now, she needs must talk to him; never
had anyone been more tongue-tied. The coldness of the weather,
their only conversation, scarcely matched her conduct to him. The
supper-room was brilliant; nothing had been spared that money
could buy to please the eye or taste. He forgot her in the
contemplation of his food, and she was glad; it gave her time to look
about.
The table was long, and everyone apparently was seated at it.
There was not a plain-looking woman among the number, so it
seemed to her; and many of them were really beautiful. But Lady
Flamington possessed a certain individual grace, a coldness and
sadness under her exterior charm of manner, that raised her much
above the ordinary plane. Sir John was sitting by her, and they were
talking pleasantly to one another. She gave one the impression that
she could be very fascinating.
But as Rosalie’s eyes travelled up the table on the opposite side,
she recognised Mr. Barringcourt for the first time that evening, and
he was sitting next to Susiebelle.
Susiebelle was evidently in good feather, for everyone had been
congratulating her upon her acting, and she was simple-minded
enough to believe them, which gave her quite a charm. She was
talking to him with great spirit and gaiety, and looked quite
handsome enough to make any mother proud. Mr. Barringcourt was
listening so politely that his attention seemed to lack interest. When
she laughed he smiled; when she smiled he listened gravely; when
her face was serious, as it rarely was, he took the opportunity to look
around.
On one of those occasions his eye travelled across to where Rosalie
sat. No sign of recognition was visible in them, but a little later he
looked at her again.
Rosalie was annoyed to find that both times she had been looking
at him, and for the future looked discreetly the other way, nay,
cultivated the acquaintance of her companion, and found him
scarcely as uninteresting as at first she had imagined.
But at last the evening was over, and she standing by Miss
Crokerly in the hall, waiting for their carriage.
The coldness of the day had changed to snow, and the ground
outside was white; a sight which somehow or other always surprises
people when first they see it, however much they may have expected
it. Thick white flakes were still falling rapidly. People drew their
wraps round them and shivered, or pretended to.
 Lady Flamington’s carriage drove away as Miss Crokerly and
Rosalie reached the top step. Mr. Barringcourt had seen them off,
and closed the carriage door. Before moving away himself, he looked
up at the steps and saw these two descending. He raised his hat,
looking at Miss Crokerly.
“Sir John is not returning home with you?”
“No,” she answered anxiously. “He said he preferred to walk; but
I’m sure he can have no idea of the state of the night. I have not seen
him since before supper-time.”
“I’ll seek him out and bring him to you; it’s a beastly night.” And he
ran lightly up the steps, whilst they got as quickly under cover as
possible.
He was not long away, and returned, bringing Sir John along with
him.
“You surely are not walking yourself?” said Miss Crokerly, as he
proceeded to close the door for them also.
“Yes. It never occurred to me to order a carriage, and I have
neither wife nor sister to be concerned about my getting wet.”
“Then,” said she decidedly, “you must come with us. I noticed as
you went up the steps your shoes are not at all suitable to the night.”
It seemed almost as if he would decline, then suddenly he said
“Thank you,” and stepped in beside Sir John, and they were off.
Now, the frog was so bright that the carriage was quite pleasantly
lit, for it had crept out from beneath Rosalie’s wraps to its
accustomed place.
Miss Crokerly then introduced him to Rosalie; but as he showed no
signs of recognition, neither did she, but leant back in her corner and
listened to the conversation.
“What did you think of the theatricals?” asked Miss Crokerly.
“I did not arrive in time for them. The secretary of Todbrook’s
Home for Deaf and Dumb came to see me about a Christmas treat for
them. For myself, I can imagine no treat that would appeal to
incurables. But he has faith in turkey, and I think he said plum-
pudding.”
“It must be a terrible thing to be afflicted with either defect. What
else are you going to do for them?”
 “I don’t know, I’m sure. I said I’d call to see him in the morning.”
“Oh! you should have a Christmas tree, and a cinematograph, and
take them all to the Pantomime to see the transformation scenes,”
said Rosalie.
And she sat up again, and her eyes were very big and bright,
because the subject was especially interesting to her. The other three
looked at her.
“Are you a philanthropist?” asked Mr. Barringcourt, with a vein of
coldness running in his words, in direct opposition to her heat.
She laughed.
“No; but I was told you were,” and leant back in her seat, and
evidently felt safe enough to betray no outward fear.
“I was speaking last night about your exertions on behalf of the
deaf and dumb,” said Miss Crokerly, in explanation, recognising,
without understanding it, the tone in each of their voices.
“You were naturally prepossessed in my favour then,” and he
looked at Rosalie again, speaking in a voice not free from sarcasm.
“No. I simply recognised that you were doing your duty.”
“Which you must admit is the hardest of all things.”
“I take your word for it. From to-day I honour you as a martyr. I
was not prepossessed in your favour at all. Forgive me for my
stupidity.”
Rosalie’s voice was changed from hot to cold. Miss Crokerly heard
it with surprise, and a silence must have fallen had not Sir John,
whose mind ranged on different topics, put in suddenly:
“I hear that it is quite true the Great High Priest intends to resign
office.”
“I have heard the same thing,” said Mr. Barringcourt. “It is a very
unusual occurrence.”
“Did you hear the reason of it?” asked Sir John.
“I believe it has something to do with the Feast of White Souls. The
episode was rather unfortunate. A great many are in favour of his
resignation.”
“Might I ask your opinion?” said Sir John.
 “Yes. I think the Great High Priest should be above scandal, and he
is evidently not.”
And he looked at Rosalie, and his eyes were laughing, though his
face and voice were as serious as those of a judge.
The old distaste rose in her, as of some dumb thing against a cruel
and powerful oppressor. But she said:
“Do you indulge in scandal, Mr. Barringcourt? I thought it was the
recreation of idle women.”
“Oh, no,” he answered, with the coolness of rudeness. “Idle women
in these parts are known by the sharpness of their tongues.”
“I’m very sorry,” she answered, suddenly changing in tone and
manner, “but I can’t help liking the Great High Priest; and as for
Golden Priest Alphonso—I detest him.”
“Oh, dear! dear!” said Miss Crokerly, with agitation, laying her
hand on Rosalie’s knee. “You must not talk like that, Rosalie, indeed,
you must not. It is not usual. Remember he is Mr. Barringcourt’s
friend, and bears an excellent reputation.”
But as the carriage drew up, she stopped speaking of necessity.
“You will drive on, will you not?” asked Sir John.
“No, thank you. I’ll get out, and borrow whatever Miss Crokerly
cares to lend me. I never had a cold in my life. The experience would
be new to me.”
So he came with them into the house, and seemed in no particular
hurry to depart. Rosalie said to him:
“Will you do me a favour, Mr. Barringcourt?”
“To the best of my ability.”
“Then give me one good point in the character of your friend.”
“Which friend?”
“The Golden Priest.”
“He is a man of great integrity.”
“What’s that?”
“Honour.”
“What’s that?”
 Rosalie’s questions were not contemptuous; they were put with a
great desire to find out.
He shrugged his shoulders.
“There you have me,” he answered. “I’m sure I don’t know. The
word generally speaks for itself to all but the ignorant.”
“Then you cannot defend him on the strength of it?”
“No; he is clever enough to defend himself, I hope. You are
wearing a very pretty and uncommon ornament, Miss Paleaf.”
“It is not an ornament. It is alive, and one of my dearest friends.”
“Such a friend is rather questionable on Lucifram.”
“Why?”
“The Serpent has a weakness for frogs. In a natural state they form
part of its food.”
“My friend has powers of self-defence as well as yours.”
“The Serpent has a very big mouth.”
“Yes. And is ambitious enough to prefer men to frogs upon
occasion.”
He laughed, and the conversation changed to general topics.
 CHAPTER XXV
THE GOLDEN PRIEST

That night when she and the frog were alone together, Rosalie
began the conversation by saying:
“What do you think of Mr. Barringcourt?”
“I like him,” said the frog, quite shortly.
“What has prepossessed you?”
“Nothing particularly. But I like him. I’m sorry you were so rude to
him.”
Rosalie flushed. The tone was almost grave enough for a rebuke.
“I? Rude? Oh, Brightcoat, how can you say so? I always try to be
polite to him, and it always ends in failure. It is he who is rude to
me.”
“No,” said the frog; “you take no pains to act or to speak sensibly.
And to say you detest anyone is absurd, ridiculous, to say nothing of
bad manners.”
“You’ve never lived in Marble House, so you can afford to talk.
Talk about vivisection! It was Mr. Barringcourt who openly deplored
to me there was no such thing in our country. What do you think of
that?”
“There are worse things than vivisection,” replied the frog. “If it
were not for that I should never have been here, or alive now.”
“But—” said Rosalie, staring at it.
“Why don’t you cultivate a charming manner, Rosalie?”
“I expect I’m not made that way. Are my manners so uncouth?”
and her expression was doleful.
 “No; but I don’t see how you’re to get your six horses, chariot, and
all the rest, unless you try to be more charming.”
“Well, Mr. Barringcourt will never help me that way. You should
have seen the look he gave me last night, and then to-night, as if he’d
never seen me before. Such folk give me quite a creepy feeling.
Besides, talking about horses, his are black. Can’t you see he is the
exact opposite of what I want? He would do all he could to hinder
me. If it were not that once I saw him looking very tired I should
detest him too. Oh, how I hate Lucifram! Somehow or other, I never
feel at home here,” and she sighed.
“And you’ve got about all it can give you.”
“Then I’m like all the rest—ungrateful.”
“Rosalie, has it ever struck you you are very pretty?”
“Yes; every now and again it has. But what of that? All the women
we saw to-night were pretty. It’s the commonest of all things. If I’d a
big hook nose now I might appear imposing. But no; even that is
common enough to-day.”
After a pause the frog said: “I heard someone say to-night you
were the prettiest woman there.”
“Please, don’t! I’d so much rather you left my personal appearance
alone.”
But the frog continued:
“It’s as well for people to think about these things at times. I know
many a lovely woman who has been ruined by thinking too much of
her beauty in one way, and too little in another. They know they are
beautiful, and that knowledge is all-sufficient to them; their food and
recreation, and all in all.”
“But I’m not one of those.”
“No. I think you might put yours to much more use than you do.”
“You speak in puzzles.”
“You are not so dull but that with a little consideration you will
understand me.”
So Rosalie went to bed much sat on by the frog, but maybe
profiting, as most of us do, from a little compression and criticism.
 Next day everything was sloppy, wet, and dismal. Rain began to
fall in the afternoon, and going out, no matter of pleasure on such a
day, was not indulged in.
Tea had just been brought in, and Rosalie and Miss Crokerly were
preparing to enjoy it alone, when visitors were announced. They
were Mr. Barringcourt and the Golden Priest Alphonso.
“I came to return the umbrella, Miss Crokerly, and met the Golden
Priest on my way.”
“Then you will have tea,” said she. “On a wet day you are doubly
welcome. No one else has ventured out.”
“We are fortunate. Miss Paleaf, allow me to introduce my friend,
Golden Priest Alphonso, to you.”
And Rosalie, having a severe and cold critic perched upon her
shoulder, rose very gracefully and bowed.
“It must have been very important business that brought you out
on such a day,” said she to him, as they sat down, with charming
sympathy.
“Well, I was out begging, and a beggar cannot choose his weather.
I was going in search of Mr. Barringcourt for a subscription for a new
decorative curtain for the temple.”
“In place of the old red one?”
“Exactly. It was old and shabby, despite its richness, and we think
it must be rotten. There is every indication that it may give way
again, and so we are making all speed with the new one.”
“Then you are not superstitious enough to think it gave way before
from anything but natural causes?”
He looked at her sharply and narrowly.
“Oh, no,” he answered. “One can find a natural cause for
everything. Therein lies the greater miracle.”
“But how?” said Rosalie, subduing her tongue in deferential
attention to the pillar of the Church.
He smiled, as became one of exalted intellect.
“Well, there is nothing like order—cause and effect—to work a
lasting miracle. A startling thing has a short life. The rottenness of
the curtain was the symbol of something still more rotten. Nothing
takes place in a day.”
Rosalie’s eyes opened innocently, though they were very far from
innocent. There is no doubt the frog must have been to blame for it.
“What is still more rotten? But perhaps my questions bore you. I
am so inquisitive.”
Again he smiled.
“You could never be that. But what is still more rotten is the
system that lets old men continue in office after they have proved
themselves unfit for it.”
Rosalie’s eyes betrayed a charming depth of horror at this cold-
blooded statement.
“But, sir,” said she, “who is to be the judge of their incapacity?
And, again, it seems so cruel, and—and—doesn’t it make a terrible lot
of enemies for you, saying things like that?”
The Golden Priest laughed. The last remark evidently was to some
point.
“In the cause of common sense one has no objection to making
enemies. And I cannot for the life of me see why the highest position
in the land should never be filled by a man till he’s nearly in his
dotage.”
“Oh! it’s more restful. Besides, a great and a good man should
retain his intellect to his death, however old and feeble he may be.”
“Granted! But feebleness is no qualification for an important post.
And greatness and goodness should discern its own capacity.”
“Is it true, then, that the Great High Priest is resigning?”
“Yes; in a few months.”
“He has discernment, then?”
“I think his action is a little too late for that. His plea is ill-health.
None of us have heard anything further—not those nearest to him in
office.”
“And then there will come the general election for his successor?”
(For in Lucifram they chose their highest priests that way. The
clergy vote for them.)
“Yes; in a few weeks from now.”
 “It will be a very distracting time?”
“Scarcely more so than the last year has been.”
And so the silent plot of years had worked to a fulfilment, the veil
or mask at length being thrown aside. To-day was spoken openly
what a month ago had been whispered and kept down.
Here the conversation was interrupted by Miss Crokerly.
“Mr. Barringcourt tells me he saw the secretary again this
morning, and arranged for all the things you suggested, Rosalie.”
“Yes. He has never doubted my judgment before, but I think he
must have detected a foreign influence, he looked so dubious.”
Rosalie laughed.
“Are they to have force-meat and sausages with the turkey, do you
know?” she asked.
“It never occurred to me to ask.”
“And you an executor of a will! And never to inquire about the
gravy and bread-sauce. It’s plain you don’t attach enough importance
to a Christmas dinner. But if I were you, Mr. Barringcourt, I’d
countermand all orders, and give them 3s. 6d. each, and a free day to
enjoy themselves anywhere and anyhow, with a night each end, to
make a complete sandwich and a delightful holiday.”
“You imagine them to be prisoners. On the contrary, those who
have friends or relations who care to receive them may have leave
from the Home once every month. And for the inmates, you must
remember it is no prison that they live in, and they are very happy.”
“I suppose so,” said Rosalie. “But I always dread those public
institutions for defects.”
“You are prejudiced,” put in the Golden Priest. “They are the
greatest blessings in existence. I always regard them as branches of
the temple.”
“So do I,” said Mr. Barringcourt; but the tone was questionable.
“I have the greatest longing to go through Todbrook’s Home,” said
Miss Crokerly. “One hears so much about it. I should like to see the
inmates at work.”
Rosalie shivered.
 “Oh! would you, Miss Crokerly? I can imagine nothing more
galling to them than to be watched by strangers.”
“But is it such an infliction to them?” asked that lady, turning to
Mr. Barringcourt.
“I don’t know, I’m sure,” said he. “I hardly think so. I think myself
it would be better if they had more visitors from the outside world.
Lady Flamington is the only lady I have ever taken over the
premises.”
“I had just left there,” said the Golden Priest, “before I met you to-
day. I hear she caught a severe chill last night, and is confined to her
room.”
“Indeed,” said Miss Crokerly; and Mr. Barringcourt and Rosalie
looked at each other, from no apparent motive.
When tea was over the two gentlemen rose to go.
“I think,” said Mr. Barringcourt, in a lower voice, to Rosalie, as the
others were speaking of a special fern which both were rearing—“I
think it would not be a bad plan for you to go over the Home with
Miss Crokerly. The matron will willingly take you over, and you’ll
find there are worse things in the world than being deaf and dumb,
or even blind.”
Then somehow or other they looked at each other, the first time
really since the Saturday night. How long ago it seemed now! And
each was very curious about the other evidently, for Rosalie’s eyes
searched his, and his eyes hers, but what conclusion either came to it
would be hard to say.
And then she shook hands with the Golden Priest, and the door
closed.
“Do you think,” said Miss Crokerly, “that Mr. Barringcourt told the
Golden Priest your opinion of him, and brought him here to-day in
consequence?”
“No, I don’t think so,” she replied thoughtfully. “I think Mr.
Barringcourt must have recognised the Golden Priest has no sense of
humour, and would resent instead of forgiving opinions.”
“Your tone proves appearances are deceptive. I thought by your
manner you had changed your estimate of him.”
Rosalie half shuddered, and stretched her hands to the blaze.
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